Don't Bring Home a White Boy: And Other Notions That Keep Black Women from Dating Out

A black lawyer with a white husband, Folan encourages other African-American women to consider dating or marrying outside their immediate circles with a sincere but matter-of-fact discussion of interracial relationships. Challenging readers to stop letting notions of difference keep them from happiness, the Harvard-educated attorney addresses the conscious, unconscious and often-unstated issues that contribute to the ongoing taboo: is a black woman who dates or marries interracially a traitor? Is a white husband an emblem of self-hatred? What factor does the U.S. history of sexual oppression play? Though she can sound flip (""I figured since I was doing so badly with the chocolate, I'd give the vanilla a try""), Folan addresses her touchy subject matter deliberately and thoroughly, including lengthy interviews with committed interracial couples who discuss how they met, the reactions of friends and family, and how they've managed over the years, letting their success stories illustrate her points. Though Folan's well-meaning text may not eliminate her readers' hesitation regarding this very loaded subject, it makes an excellent starting point.